What type of eclipse requires a new moon?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking all or part of the Sun's light. For this alignment to occur, it is essential for the Moon to be in the new moon phase since that is the only time the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun.

In a lunar eclipse, the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, which requires the Moon to be in the full moon phase. Therefore, a lunar eclipse cannot occur at the same time as a new moon.

Partial eclipses can refer to either solar or lunar events and depend on the positions of the celestial bodies, but they do not specify the phase of the Moon required for the event, making them less direct in answering the question.

An annular eclipse is a specific type of solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon is too far from the Earth to completely cover the Sun, resulting in a ring of sunlight being visible around the Moon. Like any solar eclipse, it also requires a new moon phase.

Thus, the requirement for a new moon to occur is exclusive to solar eclipses, making it the correct choice for the question.